Here Is What Medium Density Fiberboard Is And Why It’s Used For Cabinets
MDF stands for Medium Density Fiberboard. It’s a material made by breaking down wood into particles and combining it with others.
Find the full description and more below-
Have You Heard Of This?
“Heard of what, hon?” asks Tim.
“It’s this stuff called MDF,” responds Michelle. “What is MDF?” he asks. Michelle shrugs. “I heard about it yesterday when I was talking cabinetry with my friends.”
Tim frowns. “Hmm, is it a good option for kitchen cabinets? We are getting some new cabinetry to update our kitchen. If it’s cheaper and works just as well as plywood we should think about using it. And as long as it’s included in the best kitchen cabinets and brands.”
Michelle nods. “In that case, let’s see what we can find out about it on Google.” She takes her phone out of her purse and starts searching.
Here’s what the couple discovers:
What Is MDF
MDF stands for Medium Density Fiberboard. You make it by breaking down wood into particles then, using high temperatures and pressure, you combine it with wax and a resin binder. It then forms a hard material known as MDF.
You can sand it smooth and cut this material into whatever you need (in this case, cabinets).
The Pros Of MDF
Affordability. MDF is less costly than other kitchen cabinet materials.
Smoothness. MDF’s surface is smooth, making it great for painting.
Uniform. MDF doesn’t have knots, grain, or any of the characteristics of wood. Even the edges are smooth, with no splinters or voids. The smoothness of the edges makes it easier to create decorative edges.
It’s like working with wood. This means it’s not that hard to cut, sand, or do detail work with.
The Cons Of MDF
Watch out for water. While MDF is cheaper than other materials, this affordability comes with a cost. MDF soaks up liquids easily unless you seal it. This can lead to a whole host of problems.
Fineness. Due to the fine particles that make it up, MDF doesn’t hold screws very well. Thankfully, there are ways to put cabinets together that don’t involve many screws.
Density. MDF is a dense material, which makes it more difficult to transport.
Doesn’t hold stains well. It looks bad when stained. It soaks up the stain too well and looks bad because it doesn’t have any of the characteristics of wood that make stains look good.
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“Well, now we know what MDF is,” says Tim. Michelle nods. “While we’re here, why don’t we see what else we can find out about cabinets?”
